Genetic engineering

• Genetic engineering- Direct modification of an organism's genome, which is the list of specific traits (genes) stored in the DNA
• Genome- the complete set of Dna (genetic material) in an organism
• Teosinte- one of the parent plants of modern corn
• Created first genetically modified bacteria

  1973
• Eggs arehaploid: 23 chromosomes
• Body cells are diploid :46 chromosomes
• Created GM mice

  1974
• First commercial development of GMOs (insulin-producing bacteria)

  1982
• Began to sell genetically modified food

  1994
• Began to sell GMOs as pets (Glofish)

  2003
• Artificial selection techniques

  •Selective breeding

  •Hybridization

  •Inbreeding
• Artificial Selection

  Breeders choose which organism to mate to produce offspring with desired traits
• Hybridization

  Two individuals with unlike characteristics are crossed to produce the best in both organisms
• Inbreeding

  Breeding of organisms that are genetically similar to maintain desired traits
• Cloning

  Creating an organism that is an exact genetic copy of another
• Gene splicing

  DNA is cut out of one organism and put into another organism, transferring a trait
• Gel electrophoresis

  A technique used to compare DNA from two or more organisms by separating DNA based on size of fragments
• Engineered animals

  • Fast-Growing Salmon
  • Less Smelly Cows
  • Glow in the dark cat
• Web-Producing Goats: Spider genes in goats enable the production of spider silk in goat milk
• People's perspectives on genetic engineering

  A farmer

  A doctor

  A concerned environmentalist
• Environmentalist perspective: Genetic Engineering may have negative impacts on ecosystems if genetically modified plants are released into natural habitats, potentially causing harm to native species.
• Doctor perspective: Genetic Engineering has potential benefits in medicine, including gene therapy which involves replacing faulty genes with healthy ones to treat inherited disorders.
• Farmer perspective: Genetic Engineering can be beneficial as it allows farmers to produce crops with desirable traits such as resistance to pests and diseases.
• Step 1 - Isolation of Gene: The first step is to isolate the desired gene from its original location using restriction enzymes that cut specific sequences of DNA at particular locations.
• A method of producing new combinations of DNA molecules by joining together segments of DNA from different sources.
• The process of creating transgenic organisms involves several steps:
• Selective breeding

  When animals with desired characteristics are mated